Shooting at Delhi court leaves 3 dead

Jailed gangster Jitendra Gogi was shot dead Friday inside a packed Rohini courtroom here by two assailants dressed as lawyers who were also killed in a police counter-fire, officials said.

According to the sources in the Special Cell, both the attackers Rohit and Morish  were already inside Court Room No. 207. Since both were dressed like lawyers, no one suspected them. The incident happened around 1.15 pm when Gogi entered the same room and both the attackers started firing indiscriminately on him. Police then retaliated with firing and killed them on the spot. 

According to an eyewitness, a female law intern has also sustained bullet injuries. 

A hearing was going on in the Courtroom when shots were fired at Rohini court, police said. DCP Special Cell Manishi Chandra, Special Commissioner Sanjay Singh also reached court premises soon after the incident. Joint CP Northern Range SS Yadav was also present.

Following the incident, the Delhi Bar Association has decided that lawyers would abstain from work at all district courts on Saturday, September 25, due to revision of security norms.  

A senior police officer said that Gogi was also accompanied by members of the counterintelligence unit of the Delhi Police's Special Cell.

"When Gogi entered the courtroom, the two assailants in lawyers' uniform took out their pistols and opened fire on Gogi. Immediately, the personnel from the counterintelligence team which was accompanying Gogi retaliated and the two assailants died on the spot," he said.

Joint commissioner of police (northern range) has been asked to enquire into the incident and submit a report.

Some lawyers claimed this is not the first such shootout incident at the Rohini court.

"I was stepping out of the court when the incident happened. I heard firing and later more rounds were fired...this (incident of firing) has happened for the fourth or fifth time at Rohini. So, the situation has not improved so far," said advocate Rajiv Agnihotri.

Jitender Maan alias Gogi, who carried a reward of Rs 6.5 lakh on his head, was arrested along with his three accomplices from Gurgaon by a team of Special Cell in March last year, according to police.

He was arrested along with Kuldeep Naan alias Fajja, Kapil alias Gaurav and Rohit alias Koi.

The Special Cell was on the lookout for Gogi, Fajja and Gaurav for a long time before tracing them to their hideout in Gurgaon.

A few months ago, Fajja had managed to escape from the police custody when he was being produced in the Karkardooma court, another senior police official said.

Since that incident, the counterintelligence team of the Special Cell used to accompany Gogi and his associates to court for hearings, he said.